Local institutions of higher learning face significant challenges in managing funding, providing adequate facilities, maintaining enrollment and delivering students who are “workplace ready,” education leaders told attendees at the June 13 meeting of the Katy Area Chamber of Commerce. The luncheon, which was held at the University of Houston’s Katy campus at 22400 Grand Circle Blvd.in Katy, featured panelists from three of Katy’s colleges – Houston Community College, the University of Houston-Katy and the University of Houston-Victoria at Katy.

The program was moderated by State Representative Mike Schofield, whose district includes much of the greater Katy area.

Jay Neal, Associate Vice President and Chief Operating Officer for University of Houston at Sugar Land and University of Houston at Katy, spoke first, telling the crowded room that “We need a larger building with a larger multipurpose room,” noting that UHK and UHVK share the space and that enrollment continues to grow. He cited an increase in student headcount, increase in semester hours and the growing demand for space for student club activities as growth indicators. Neal said that he has been asked about the possibility of adding dormitories at the Katy campus, which presently only serves commuters. “We need to add a living room before we add a bedroom,” he said. UH-Katy serves the students who are college-ready and the students who don’t want to go away to college, he said. The school, which currently offers programs in nursing and engineering, is looking at adding accounting, management information services, supply chain management, biology and health care leadership programs, among others. He also wants to partner with a local hospital for clinical space, to increase enrollment among nursing students. “We’ve had amazing support from Katy stakeholders,” he said.

Neal, as well as the other panelists, said that about 20 percent of people in the greater Katy region have some college but no degree, and those are the students that all three institutions want to target for future enrollment growth.

Kathleen Anzivino, HCC’s college operations affairs officer for HCC Northwest, described the change in the state funding formula for community colleges, which was mandated by House Bill 8 in 2023, and the challenges it presents to those institutions. Compared to the previous “butts in seats” model, she said that the new complicated formula is now “performance-based” and rewards colleges for awarding degrees, certificates, and other “credentials of value.” State funds make up between 15 and 18 percent of HCC’s budget, she said. Like UH-Katy, HCC’s Katy campus is hurting for space, especially for offices and classrooms, she said. “Every one of our classrooms is full.”

Bob Glenn, president of the University of Houston-Victoria, described his school’s Katy campus as a “pathway” institution with its student body comprised of 70 per cent women, 70 per cent minority and 65 per cent first generation college students – and that half of their students graduate without college debt. “We help students get to the future they seek for themselves,” he said. He said that the school would always be an upper division school offering junior- and senior-level classes, and that they would continue to partner with HCC for freshman and sophomore level classes. He praised the school’s education programs which creates teachers and principals.

During the “Q&A” portion of the program, Schofield asked each leader about future campus and course planning. Anzivino described the new partnership with Sam Houston State University for a new agri-science program; she also responded that HCC was pausing from building and was filling up the space they have, while working on the “credentials of value” in partnership with local industry. Neal echoed the need for additional space to accommodate program growth at UHK and Glenn said that UHV-K was working with its main campus for more space for programs such as those nursing and engineering. “We are always looking for new programs that are needed in the area,” he said.

Schofield asked each panelist to describe the issue of the looming “enrollment cliff,” which is affecting many colleges and universities in the northeast and midwestern sections of the country. The term refers to the idea that due to changing demographics, colleges and universities across the U.S. will see a dramatic decline in enrollment starting in 2025. UH-K’s Neal said that the trend is leading some institutions in the northeast and Midwest to cannibalize each others’ students, but said that Texas would not likely be affected, due to the state’s continued population growth. He again referred to the local population with only “some college” and said that his school wants to help “upskill them.” The key, he said, is to have strong local partnerships with employers who can help direct curriculum, making it current and relevant to the workplace. Glenn concurred that Texas won’t see a drop in college enrollment. Anzivino added that “the key is meeting students where they are at,” and that includes upskilling and additional “credentialing” programs.

The panelists were asked about the common needs in preparing their students for the workforce. Anzivino gave a “shout out” to Katy ISD for getting students to HCC’s Katy campus. Neal said that the students he encounters at UHK are different from when he started 22 years ago, and employers tell him that today’s students are lacking in “soft skills” – specifically, the ability to make eye contact, to shake hands, to communicate and to dress professionally. Glenn also stressed the need for basic communication skills.

Panelists also discussed the opportunities and challenges presented by the advent of artificial intelligence. Glenn said that UHV-K uses AI to streamline the enrollment process and that the school has applications that help catch students who are using AI to “cheat” and to write their papers. Anzivino said that HCC was utilizing AI for enhanced teaching tools and that AI could change the way that course content is delivered to students. She said that the school is also using AI on the app side for emergency preparedness. “It won’t replace people, except those who don’t know how to use AI,” she said. HCC has added a bachelor’s program in AI, she said.

Schofield called the education summit the first of a series of events in the Katy Chamber’s “summer of learning,” encouraging chamber members to attend the forthcoming economic summit on June 28 which is co-hosted by the Katy Economic Development Council, the annual “State of the Schools” program on August 8 and the annual Congressional update on August 21. For more information on those programs, go to katychamber.com.